James Webb: are going to be successful and even though i remain proud of my marine corps service in that war so many years ago, i welcome them. when i first returned to vietnam in 1991, i went to eastern mass at the hanoi cathedral. there were perhaps 20 people in that church, and all o them were elderly.

James Webb: it was a dark and quiet place. last christmas i attended christmas mass in the same chapel, and there were at least 2,000 people in the church overflowing into the courtyard. people can argue around the edges. we can have our political debates, but this is progress.

James Webb: we need to reward those strides with reciprocal behavior, even if we remain at odds on other? there's a lot terms of the transformations that have been going on in vietnam. vietnam is growing. it is growing economically. it is growing politically. it is reaching out to the rest of the world. it is acting responsiblely in the ternational arena.

James Webb: we have much to do with that yet to do. we have work to do in terms of encouraging more openness and greater political freedom, but we are on a pathway where with the right kind of continued dialogue is going to occur. and so i would like to reemphasize that the best legacy for those of us who care deeply

James Webb: about this issue so many years ago and who rember all the tragedies of the war will be for us, all of us, to see vietnam, the vietnam of today, as a strategic and commercial partner and also as a vibrant, open society whose government reflects the strength of the culture itself, a strength that has been demonstrated over and over again by the vietnamese who

James Webb: have come to this country and who i am proud to say are now americans. i thank the chair, and i yield the floor. and i suggest quorum the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. the clerk will call the roll.